Deuter Race X Air review

It's on the big side for a race pack but the Race X is suitably slim and streamlined. The rigid back system is cool and airy, though we struggled to make it stable when loaded, as the waist belt isn't quite compliant enough to hug the hips properly and left us with hot spots on shoulder blades and hips.

There's space for a bladder (not supplied), plus two deep mesh pockets, and the useful touches like a brightly-coloured rain cover and the sensibly-sized extra zip pocket at the front make up for scratchy shoulder straps.